Rail-joint.



UNITED STATES Y PATENT OEFTCE.

DANIEL STEPHENS, OF PO'ITSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION foaming part of Lettersrant No. 660,936, dated october 3o, 1900.

l Applicanon ledSeptember 13, 1900. Serial No. 29,915. tNo model.)

To ir/ZZ wton/z/ t may concern: g

Be it known that I, DANIEL STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pottsville, in the count-yof Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and usefullm provementsin Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention consists in certain improvements in the detailsof construction of rail-joints of that general construction and arrangement shown in Letters Patent No. 656,539, issued August 21, 1900, on my application, wherebya more perfect construction is secured, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure lis a perspective view of a section of track, showing a rail-joint of my improved construction; Fig. 2, a perspective view of theseveral parts separated, and Fig. 3 a cross-section through said parts.

' In said drawings the portions marked A represent the rails, B a connecting tread portion, and C the side clamps orsupports. The construction of said several parts is inthe main of the same general character as that shown in the patent above mentioned. The ends of the tread portion are cut away in each rail, and the projecting portion a of the web is covered by the connecting tread portion B, which is formed With a groove in its under side adapted to fit over said webv portions and a tread corresponding with the tread of the rnai'nrail. The joints are also preferably formed on an angle to form a practically continuons tread to the rail. The clamping-supports C embrace both the flange of the rail and that of the portion B, clamping them together horizontally, and are of sufficient rigidity to afford suitable support to the joint. Spikes 8 extend down through notches n' in the braces C and notches n in the fianges of the portion B, which notches are Yarranged to register, and into the ties, thus securing the parts B and C together and permitting the free contraction and expansion of the rails.

Thus far the construction is identical with that shown in the patent before referred to, and my improvement consists in so anchoring the rail to the parts of the jointwhich are secured to the ties that they cannot creep, asrI find theold construction may on grades. To this end I out notches a in the flanges of the rails and cnt into the flanges ofthe part B a short distance to form a'lip Z near each end, which may be bent down into one of said notches, as shown in Fig. 3 Saidy notches are made wider than thelips in ordertoallow the free contraction and expansion of the rail. It will be understood that the lip will not extend to below the under surface of the rail-flange, and thus Will not interfere with the use of the side clamping-supports C. I have also shown keys lc inserted through apertures 0,2 in the web a of the rails and correy sponding apertures in the part B to secure the saine result. The apertures in the webs Ct are made of sufficient length to permit the contraction and expansion of the rails, While those in the part B are of al size to just admit said keys. both the keys andthe interlocking lips and notches may be usedtogether if found necessary; but I regard either one as sufficient for It will be understood that the purpose on -most grades, preferring the` lips and notches, inasmuch as no additional parts are required and theconstruction is less expensive.

It will be understood, of course, that I do not confine' myself to the exact form of lip l shown, but regard any interengaging notch and lip or llug ofthe respective parts as answering the requirements of my invention.'

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl. Arail-jointeinbodyingrails with notches in their flanges, a tread portion B adapted to embrace the ends of the webs of the rails and formed with lips to be engaged withsaid notches, and side clamping-supports engaging with both the flanges of the rails and the portion B to secure them together horizontally, and spikes as the securing devices, substantially as set forth. y

2. In a rail-joint, the combination, ofthe rails with the ends of their treads cut away and formed with notches in their anges adjacent to said cut-away portion, a tread portion B mounted on said ends covering the joint between them, and having danges eX- tending,- ont over the rail-(ianges with lips cnt therein to be bent down into said notches, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rail-joint, the combination, ofthe rails havingr the endsof their treads cnt away, and notches formed in their flanges, a tread portion B adapted to till in said out-away portion and having lips to engage said flanges, keys extending through apertures in said p0rtion B and the webs of the rails, the clamping-supports C, and the secming-spikes,s\1b stantially as set forth.

1L. ln a rail-joint, the combination, of the rails with the ends of their treads ont away,

DANIEL STEPHENS. [1.. 5.]

Witnesses:

E. A. MoYER, E. W. BRADFORD. 

